Staircase 4

Inspector McKee #19

by Helen Reilly

Death strikes down a man on the eve of his wedding to a lovely girl. The verdict is suicide, but the girl is certain it is murder—certain because of a closing door. Inspector McKee wonders, too, and soon both he and the girl have their hands full trying to catch up with an ingenious murderer who leaves a corpse-dotted trail.

Genres: Mystery

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

Helen Reilly was an American novelist. She was born Helen Kieran and grew up in New York City in a literary family. Her brother, James Kieran, also wrote a mystery, and two of her daughters, Ursula Curtiss and Mary McMullen, are mystery writers.

Reilly's early books were police procedurals based on her research into the New York Homicide squad. Her most popular character is Inspector Christopher McKee. Reilly also used the pseudonym Kieran Abbey.

Reviews

[Ralph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read several of Helen Reilly's stories featuring Inspector McKee of the Manhattan Homicide Squad, and this particular one does not fare so well when compared to the others. It would have been a much better book had we had more of McKee and his detectives, and less (much less) of naive, dim-witted, self-absorbed Gabrielle Conant, who spent just about the entirety of the book lying to the police, hiding evidence, not reporting bodies she trips over and deluding herself. Eventually, justice is served (after all, this is not a modern book)but no thanks to Miss Conant. Personally, I think McKee should have charged her with felony cluelessness. Still, the book is an enjoyable read for any fan of classic post-war mysteries, and the depth and quality of Reilly's writing does much to help the reader overlook the sometimes frustrating plotting.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

It may seem strange but in some ways Helen Reilly sets off echoes of Patricia Wentworth in my mind.
In many ways her plots are better-it is often trickier to spot the culprit, for instance- and the writing is superior, but they both do a neat line in hapless heroines and strong silent heroes. The former stumble from unthinking danger to unthinking danger and the latter come under suspicion because of their lack of communication. McKee is of course a very competent professional and Miss Silver a very competent amateur but both have a very keen sense of justice.

In this novel there are four murders and financial misdoing. The heroine and hero are particularly irritating as they blunder around, but there is some quite effective "gaslighting", as well as plenty of suspects before the final revelation.

Quick and easy reading at a bargain price.

[Dorothy J. Barkell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery

This was an old -fashioned mystery at its best. With multiple suspects, devious doings, and a love story hidden by the crimes and machinations of a group of friends, one woman lost her fiance and worried that she had lost her sanity. With enemies on every side, she stumbles through the mist, hoping for someone to trust. A good story.